Method and apparatus for twisting wires



A ril 30, 1957 Filed Aug. 22, 1955 R. GlLLlS ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWISTING WIRES Sheets-Sheet 1 R. GILL/S E. W LARSON S T/NE Arron/vs? April 30, 1957 .R. GlLLlS ETAL 2,790,299

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWISTING WIRES Filed Aug. 22, 1955 2 Sheets$heet 2 &

wmvrops .R. GILL/S E. W LARSON R. M. STl/VE Br TORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWISTING WIRES Randall Gillis, Eggertsville, Elbert W. Larson, Williamsville, and Ralph M. Stine, Kenmore, N. Y., asslgnors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,644

8 Claims. (Cl. 57-51) This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for producing pairs of wires with alternate reverse directional twists therein.

To manufacture cables for use in the telephone industry with satisfactory electrical characteristics therein, it is necessary that the wires forming the cables have predetermined twists therein. In the past, twisting of the wires has been performed by machines separate from the stranders requiring many twisting operations to supply the twisted wires required for each strander.

The objects of the invention are a method of and apparatus for efficiently producing pairs of wires with alternate reverse directional twists therein.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method cornprises connecting a pair of wires at spaced positions with an insulating material while advancing longitudinally parallel with each other, twisting the pair of connecting Wires alternately in reverse directions to form alternate twists in the wires and holding the twisted wires against untwisting.

An apparatus, by the aid of which this method may be practiced, includes a guide for the wires mounted for rotation and driven alternately in reverse directions to twist the wires while means in the form of pressure rollers are disposed adjacent the guide to maintain the twist in the wires. In the present embodiment of the invention, a plurality of units is mounted in a circular arrangement, the number of units depending upon the number of pairs of wires for each cable unit. A single power means, driving a cam to reciprocate an actuating bar, causes rocking motion of a drive gear to drive a main pulley, which drives a belt operatively connecting all of the units to the drive means and causing like rocking motions of the units simultaneously.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of the apparatus by the aid of which the method may be practiced;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the twisting assembly;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of one of the units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the guide means for each unit shown in its normal position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 4 actuated into its open position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating one species of connecting means for the pairs of wires;

Fig. 7 is an enlargedcross-sectional view of another pair of wires illustrating another species of connecting means therefor, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a pair of wires with the reverse directional twists therein.

The'schematic illustration in Fig. 1 includes a strander 4 disposed between a guide plate 5 and a rotary takeup 6. In the past, reels 7 of previously twisted insulated wires were threaded through the guide plate to the strander. In this embodiment of the invention, two sets ice of units 8 and 9 are interposed between reels 7 of single wires and the guide plate 5.

The first set of units 8 includes a frame 10 having la horizontal portion 11 and a vertical portion 12 serving as a main support for the units 8. The units 8 are identical in structure and a description of one will apply to all. The unit shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 includes a housing 17 with an annular flange 18 receivable in one of a plurality of apertures 19 in the vertical member 12 of the frame and secured in place by any suitable means (not shown). A hollow guide 20, of the general contour shown, is supported by bearings 21 disposed in the housing 17 and held against axial movement by a threaded nut 22. A fixed position jaw 23 has an integral threaded shank 24 mounted in the threaded exit end 25 of the guide 20. The jaw 23 is of the contour shown cut away along a line beginning at 27 and ending at 28 to partially conform to the adjacent surface of a movable jaw 29. The jaws 23 and 29 have aligned apertures 30 and 31 therein (only one set being shown) to receive aligning pins 32 with their central collar portions 33 to maintain positive connection between the jaws, cause registration of the movable jaw with the fixed position jaw and allowing relative movement of the jaws between open and closed positions. Companion grooves, 34 in the fixed position jaw and 35 in the movable jaw, receive a helical gartertype spring 36 to normally urge the movable jaw into its closed position. An inner guide 37, slidably disposed in the hollow guide 20 and normally urged outwardly by a spring 38-to a position limited by the annular member 39, has a tapered inner end 40 adapted to move against a tapered surface 41 of the movable jaw 29 to force the jaw into the open position (shown in Fig. 5) to facilitate the threading of strands through the guide. One of the bearings 42 of the inner guide 37 is supported by a bracket 43 mounted on the housing 17 (as shown in Fig. 2).

Each unit 8 is provided with an extruzder or material applying unit 9 adapted to join a pair of strands in each instance such as wires 46 (Fig. 6) with a plastic insulating material 47 while the wires are advanced longitudinally at spaced parallel positions through the unit. Fig. 7 illustrates the result of Wires 48 initially provided with individual plastic or rubber insulations 49 and textile coverings 50, joined together by a suitable insulating material 51 while advancing through the unit 9. In each instance, the strands of wires while advancing in spaced parallel paths are joined together whereby the twist formed in the wires will be maintained. The units 9 are mounted in any suitable manner (not shown) on a vertical frame 52.

Each guide 20 is provided with a pulley 54 mounted thereon adjacent the exit end thereof and a pair of pressure rollers 55 to hold the twisted wires against untwisting. The rollers 55 have their spindles 56 journalled in ends of yoke-like members 57, one of which is fixedly mounted on the flange 18 of the housing 17 while the other is pivotally mounted at 58 on the flange. The movable or pivotally supported pressure roller 55 is normally urged toward its companion roller by springs 59 having their ends connected to the adjacent ends of the spindles 56.

The power means for driving the units 8 originates in a motor 62 supported by the horizontal portion 11 of the frame 10 and operatively connected to a shaft 63 through a belt 64 and pulleys 65 and 66. The shaft 63 is journalled in suitable bearings (not shown) and has a heart-shaped cam 67 mounted thereon. Cam rollers 68 mounted for rotation on a rod 70 cooperate to follow the contours of the cam to bring about reciprocation of the rod 70. The rod 70 is journalled in suitable bearings or bushings (not shown) disposed in brackets 71 mounted on the frame member 11. A link 72 pivotally connected at one end to the adjacent end of the rod 70 -and pivotally connected at the other end to a gear 73 causes rocking motion to be imparted to the gear during reciprocation of the rod 70. The gear 73 is supported for rocking motion about its axis and interengages a pinion 75 mounted on a shaft 76. The shaft 76 is journalled in suitable bearings (not shown) and has a pulley 77 mounted thereon. A belt 78, extending around the pulley 77 and the various pulleys 54 of the units 8 and held suitable taut by idler pulleys 79, serves to impart like rocking motions to the units 8 during operation of the drive and power means.

During operation of the apparatus let it be assumed that the strands or wires 46 or 48 are fed initially in pairs from supply reels through the material applying units 9, the twisting units 8, the guide'plate and the strander 4 to the takeup reel where the leading ends of the wires are secured in a group. When the entire machine is set in motion, the wires will be advanced longitudinally by the takeup reel which, in the conventional manner, is rotated about its axis and in its cradle about an axis at right angles to the reel axis. Therefore, the wires are advanced at like linear speeds through their respective units 9 and 8 of the apparatus.

Considering first the method, it will be observed that while the pairs of wires 46 or 43 advance through their respective units 9, they will be connected in their respective equally spaced parallel positions before entering their respective tubes or inner guides 37 of the main guides 20 of their units 8. The exit ends of the guides, referring particularly to the fixed position jaws 23 and the movable jaws 29, may have inner contours conforming particularly to the cross-sectional contours of the joined wires (as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7) so that as there is no pressure applied to these joined wires through the force of the sprin 36. The joined wires are, nevertheless, provided with a path through the guide, particularly in the area of the jaws to assure twisting of the pairs of wires during rotation of the guides in reverse directions or to twist the wires alternately as illustrated (for example) in Fig. 8. The pressure rollers 55 for each unit are disposed closely adjacent the exit ends of their units. These rollers do not rotate with the guides and, therefore, maintain the twists formed in the strands during the reverse rocking or rotary motions of the units.

This invention introduces to the present high speed stranding methods additional method steps of feeding straight wires in spaced parallel pairs connecting the wires so positioned, forming reverse twists therein, maintaining the twists therein and doing all this at speeds desirable for the high speed stranders. This invention also introduces the apparatus to the high speed stranders, thereby adding the units 8 and 9, which may vary widely in number to satifsy the requirements for the stranders.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrange ments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing groups of alternate direction twists in longitudinally advancing initially parallel wires connected at spaced positions by insulating material, the apparatus comprising a hollow guide for the Wires mounted for rotation and including a fixed position jaw, a movable jaw and means to urge the movable jaw toward thejfixed jaw, means to rotate the guide alternately in reverse directions to form alternate direction twists in the wires, and means disposed adjacent the guide to maintainthe twists in the wires.

An apparatusforproducing groups of alternate di rection twists in longitudinally advancinginitiallyparallel wircsconnected at spaced positions by insulating mate- 'rial, the apparatus comprising a hollow guide for the wires mounted for rotation and including-a fixed position jaw, a movable jaw and means to urge the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, means carried by the fixed jaw for interengagement with the movable jaw to maintain alignment of the jaws, means to rotate the guide alternately in reverse directions to form alternate direction twists in the wires, and means disposed adjacent the guide to maintain the twists in the wires.

3. An apparatus for producing groups of alternate direction twists in longitudinally advancing intially parallel wires connected at spaced positions by insulating material, the apparatus comprising a hollow guide for-the wires mounted for rotation and including a fixed position jaw, a movable jaw and means to urge the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, means carried by the jaws to maintain a given spacing between the jaws for the wires, means to rotate the guide alternately in reverse directions to form alternate direction twists in the wires, and means disposed adjacent the guide to maintain the twists in the wires.

4. An apparatusfor producing groups of alternate direction twists in longitudinally advancing initially parallel wires connected at spaced positions by insulating material, the apparatus comprising a hollow guide for the wires mounted for rotation and including a fixed position jaw, a movable jaw and means to urge the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, a tubular member for the advancement of the wires therethrough rotatable with the guide and movable longitudinally of the guide to force the movable jaw away from the fixed jaw, means to rotate the guide alternately in reverse directions to form alternate direction twists in the wires, and means disposed adjacent the guide to maintain the twists in the wires.

5. The method of producing a pair of conductor wires with alternate reverse directional twists therein comprising connecting a pair of spaced wires with an insulat ing material while advancing longitudinally parallel with and spaced from each other, twisting the pair of connected wires alternately in reverse directions while the wires are advancing longitudinally spaced from each other to form alternate twists in the wires, and holding the twisted wires against untwisting.

6. The method of stranding conductor wires comprising advancing wires longitudinally from supplies through a strandcr, dividing the wires leaving the supplies into spaced parallel pairs with the wires in each pair spaced from each other, and forming twists in the pairs in advance of the strander while maintaining their spaced positions.

7. The method of stranding conductor wires comprising advancing wires longitudinally from supplies through a strander, dividing the wires leaving the supplies into spaced parallel pairs with the wires in. each pair spaced from each other, connecting the spaced parallelwires with'an insulating material while maintaining their spaced positions, and forming twists in the pairs in advance of the strander.

8. The method of stranding conductor wires comprising advancing wires longitudinally from supplies through a strandcr, dividing the wires leaving the supplies into spaced parallel pairs with the wires in each pair spaced from each other, connecting the spaced parallel wires with an insulating material while maintaining their spaced positions, forming twists in the pairs in advance of the strander, and holding the twisted pairs of wires against untwisting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,905 Bartell May 18;1937

2,370,899 Wildbore Mar. 6, 1945 2,412,196 Ashbaugh et al "Dec. 10, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 573,784 Great Britain July 15, 1942 all 

